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Old Motorway Photos

This gallery contains images sent in by visitors to Roads.org.uk — scans of original photos they took of motorways in the past.

If you have a couple of pictures documenting a motorway near you under construction in the 60s or lightly trafficked with Ford Cortinas then get in touch and get them posted on the site for all to see.

1964. The M4 under construction in west London, where it crosses the A4. This looks far too big, as though it was superimposed later. Taken c1964. Photo by Roger Maxwell

1974. The A414 bridge under the M11, under construction. Photo by Roger Maxwell

1974. Looking north along the M11, still under construction, from the A414. Photo by Roger Maxwell

1963. Tolworth Tower as seen from the Kingston Bypass. Photo by Roger Maxwell

2002. Taken from the same point as the photo above, 39 years later, the Kingston Bypass has grown and so has the tower. Photo by Roger Maxwell

1982. The Orwell Bridge under construction near Ipswich — then for the A45, now carrying the A14. And a rather unusual vessel passing underneath!

1982. An aerial shot as the bridge nears completion.

1982. The main span completed, with some work needed on the approach viaducts. Photo by Wally

1982. Taken from one end — this really is a very impressive structure! Photo by Wally

1970s. The M62 at Scammonden Dam shortly after opening — considerably quieter than today, and also in much nicer weather than usual! Photo by Greg Taylor

1970. These three photos were taken by one of the people employed to build the M62 in about 1970. The M61/M62 interchange is seen here. The sign is blank on the left (where it should read M61) and on the right reads M62 (M66). Photo by D. Dunwell

1970. A little further along, the complexity of this three-way interchange becomes apparent. Catenary lighting has already been installed. Photo by D. Dunwell

1970. The northern part of the junction, with a gracefully curving flyover reaching ground level to the right. Lane markings are in place, but no hard shoulder. Photo by D. Dunwell

1965. The A1(M) Darlington Bypass, seen looking south from the A67 Merrybent bridge, taken on May 14th 1965. Photo by Lorraine Morrison

2008. The same view again, with substantially more foliage but little else different. Photo by Lorraine Morrison

March 1968. To the M40, looking towards London at the elevated viaduct section near High Wycombe. In the foreground is a line that closed two years later — after engineers had worked so hard to accommodate it. Photo by Robert

July 1968. A car misses the end of the road and hits the temporary barriers at High Wycombe. Photo by Robert

September 1968. The Loudwater Viaduct nearing completion. Photo by Robert

October 1968. An overbridge on the M40, almost finished. Photo by Robert

May 1969. Site clearance for what was about to become the M40 near Beaconsfield. This is now a dual-four lane motorway. Photo by Robert

1982. A view towards London from junction 4. The section through the junction, in the foreground, is now a two-lane bottleneck on a much widened and improved motorway. Photo by Robert